Ebor Festival | Racecourse Hospitality LinkedIn0 The Ebor Festival 2017 World class racing meets high society for the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival, the jewel in the crown of York Racecourse. The course, known as the Knavesmire, has been a favourite amongst racegoers since it was founded in 1731. In 2017 the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival will take place from Wednesday 23rd to Saturday 26th August. The Festival will once again offer four days of top class sport with Wednesday featuring the Juddmonte Stakes, the attraction off the course on the Thursday will once again be Ladies Day whilst centre stage on course will be the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, Friday will feature the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes with the Betfred Ebor the main racing attraction on Saturday. York Racecourse Information Travel Fixtures And Facilities Tickets: £27- £49 (£30 - £35 for the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival). Food And Drink The Gimcrack Restaurant is a traditional restaurant serving 3 course lunch and afternoon tea.

There’s a table d’hôte menu for under £20 per person, 12 noon ‘til 2.30pm. Alcoves has a cosy atmosphere with a selection of cheeses, pâtés and lighter bites. The relaxed piazza style of the Ebor Bistro on the ground floor eatery was a great success in its first year and offers the chance to enjoy a coffee with a cake or perhaps a reviving bowl of chilli (£4.95), without needing to leave the Ebor Stand or miss out on a race as giant screens are at hand. The Seafood Buffet is located on the fifth floor of the Ebor Stand, the delicacies on offer have already found favour with regular racegoers. Viewing In the new Ebor Stand and the traditional steppings to the side of it you cannot get better views of the racing. The Club badge provides access to all the course facilities. There are lawns and terraces to view from as well as the balconies and restaurants Dress Racegoers like to make coming to York a special occasion and dress accordingly. Gentlemen must wear a jacket and tie and many ladies choose to wear a hat although it is not obligatory.

Grandstand & Paddock Racing FAQs Racing FAQs What should guests wear? Racegoers at York like to make it a special occasion and choose to dress accordingly. Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket, collared shirt and tie in County Stand. Most gentlemen would choose to wear smart trousers and formal shoes to complete the look. So whilst there is no formal restriction on wearing jeans and trainers, these are rarely seen in the County Stand. In a similar vein, whilst we encourage a sense of style in the County Stand, if gentlemen believe the weather warrants shorts then there is no formal restriction to them being worn. In Grandstand & Paddock and Course Enclosure the dress code is more relaxed; shorts and t-shirts are worn by racegoers enjoying the sun. The only common sense restrictions would be those of taste and decency which would apply to all areas, for example regarding style and slogan t-shirts. Bare chests are not acceptable. How can guests travel to York? York train station is 2 miles from the track, both shuttle buses and taxis offer a good raceday service. For drivers there are signposts from all the major routes to the plentiful supply of free car parking on all of our racedays.

For John Smith's Day and The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, a special traffic plan will apply. Car parking - There is a plentiful supply of free car parking on all of our racedays. How do I pick a winner? A question as old as the sport itself so there’s no easy answer! Knowledge is power so consult the information in your racecard, book a tipster for your party, or listen to the ‘punters panel’ held around 1.15pm every day to pick up some clues. Favourite colours, children’s names and a popular jockey have also produced their share of success. If you are in the County Stand then your complimentary racecard with your badge may well provide you with some pointers. What time should I arrive? The gates are open from 11.15am on racedays and 11am for the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival so you can start arriving from then on. The first race is usually between 1.30pm and 2pm so if you want to have a look at the horses and get your bets on then arrive in plenty of time, remembering the traffic in York can be busy and to allow time to buy your ticket. What about the evening meeting?

Gates will open at 4pm and the first race is set for 6pm. Musical entertainment will start after racing until approximately 10pm. Can I buy tickets on the day? Yes, but if you want discounts for party bookings in the Grandstand & Paddock and County Stand please book in advance. May, August and Saturday racing will be extremely busy so please arrive in good time if you are buying tickets on the day. If I book tickets in advance when will I receive them? All tickets and badges will be sent approximately two to three weeks before the meeting. Please book well in advance in order to receive your tickets in time. Orders made approximately 5 days prior to the meeting will have to be collected from the course at the ticket collection window. Please contact the Bookings Team on 01904 620911 for more information. Are there any cash points on the course? Yes, there are cash points available located at the far end of the Grandstand & Paddock area and in the foyer of the Old County Stand entrance and the Ebor Stand. Can I bring my own food and drink?

Picnics are permitted in the Car Parks and the Course Enclosure Food and drink (please no glass) can be taken into the Course Enclosure, where picnics are welcome. View the wide range of food and drink options available in all enclosures on a raceday here. Does the racecourse operate a non-smoking policy? Yes, since July 2007 the racecourse has enforced the legislation and became no smoking inside all buildings. There are plenty of open spaces, and all box and private facilities have adjacent open areas, where smoking is permitted. The use of e-cigarettes is permitted, however they will be treated the same as tobacco products. What are the provisions for disabled racegoers? York Racecourse is committed to providing an accessible environment for all, including persons with disabilities. Our aim is to provide our valued racegoers with a memorable day’s experience and the desire to return soon. To assist disabled racegoers gaining access to and from the car parks and taxi rank, we have a buggy available.

Hollywoodbets Sports Blog: Ebor Festival York 2014 Feature Races Contact Us Ebor Festival York 2014 Feature Races In this week’s International Feature we focus on the annual EBOR FESTIVAL to be held in the United Kingdom from Wednesday 20 August to Saturday 23 August at YORK RACECOURSE. Three Group 1 events, namely the Juddmonte International Stakes run over 2092m on Wednesday, the Darley Yorkshire Oaks to be contested over 10 furlongs on Thursday and the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes run over five furlongs on Friday head up the carnival. There are also three supporting Group 2 events and two Group 3 races during the four-day showpiece. All the action of the Ebor Festival is brought to you by HOLLYWOODBETS.NET. Day 1 – Wednesday 20 August 2014 Wednesday is called Juddmonte International Day and features the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes to be run over 2092m and is open to three year olds and older horses.

Some of the most notable horses to win this race have been the likes of Frankel, Giant’s Causeway, Duke Of Marmalade and Sea The Stars. Sir Michael Stoute (5) holds the record for the most number of wins in this race. He saddles last year’s Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes victor Telescope for this event. The other feature on the day is the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes to be run over 12 furlongs (2400m) and is for 3-year old colts and geldings. Once again trainer Sir Michael Stoute has done the best from the trainers and he has won this race 7 times. This year he saddles Snow Sky. Others races on the day include the Group 3 Acomb Stakes and three Handicaps. Day 2 – Thursday 21 August 2014 Day 2 is Ladies’ Day and gives guests the opportunity to get together with friends and dress to impress. The main feature on the day is the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks to be run over 2400m.

This year we see the unbeaten John Gosden trained filly, Taghrooda take her place. Her conditioner is no stranger to winning this event as he has won this race twice, the latest being last year with The Fugue. Another big event on the day is the Group 2 Lowther Stakes which is for two year old fillies to be run over six furlongs (1200m). Trainer Richard Hannon (5) has enjoyed the most success in this event, the latest being in 2011 with Best Terms. This year he has nominated Osaila and Tiggy Wiggy. Other races on the day include the Listed Galtres Stakes, a juvenile stakes race and two handicap events. Darley Yorkshire Oaks Preview here! Day 3 – Friday 22 August 2014 Nunthorpe Day as it is called, features the last Group 1 event of the Ebor Festival, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes which is for two year olds and older horses to be run over the minimum distance of 5 furlongs (1000m).

This year we see the South African globetrotter Shea Shea attempt to go one better than his runner-up spot in this event last year. There is also the running of the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup over 3299m. Last year’s winner Ahzeemah could take his place in the line-up as he bids to defend his title. Other races on the day include the York Stakes, 2 handicaps and a solitary Maiden Stakes. Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes Preview here! Day 4 – Saturday 23 August 2014 The final day of the festival is Ebor Day, which features the Ebor Handicap, one of Europe’s premier handicap races. The Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs is a supporting feature on the day. Trainer Kevin Ryan has saddled the last two winners of this race and aims to make it a hat-trick. He has nominated seven runners for this event. Interestingly, South African trainer Mike de Kock has nominated a first timer in the race by the name of Tannaaf.

Other events on the day are the Group 3 Strensall Stakes, the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes and three other handicaps. York Race Course Layout Course Description York is England’s third biggest racecourse in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It attracts around 350,000 racegoers per year and stages 3 of the UK’s 31 Group 1 races, all of which take place during this festival. York is a splendid course with a long run-in, sweeping turns and virtually no undulations, making it a galloping horse’s dream. It is fair to every style of horse. There is also a perfectly flat straight course on which all 5 and 6 furlong races are run on. There is the perception that there is a bias favouring frontrunners at York but this myth has been dispelled by Simon Rowlands who conducted an excellent study that ranked the track as only 36th best out of 37 racecourses for frontrunners, with the long flat straight maybe having something to do with this.

Ebor Festival York | Ante post betting on the Ebor Festival Home » Ante Post Betting » An Englishman’s August Highlight: Ebor Festival York An Englishman’s August Highlight: Ebor Festival York 43 Views August is always the merriest time for most Englishmen! For horse racing lovers, it is when the Ebor Festival visits societies again. As per tradition, the Ebor Festival happens on the 19th to the 22nd of every August. Its establishment dates back to 1843 with only one race, the Ebor Handicap. Being one of the most celebrated race meetings of the flat season, the festival has always incited participation from race goers in both inside and outside of the United Kingdom. In this festival, the Ebor happens. Contents 1.0.9 Get Free Bets and Betting Advice Ebor Festival Ante Post Betting Ante post betting on the Ebor festival is one of the major horse-racing events worldwide. In every day of this four-day long event, the organizers have prepared various races. Wednesdays are referred to as the Juddmonte International day.

It consists of the Acomb Stakes, Juddmonte International, and the Great Voltiguer Stakes. Thursdays, on the other hand, are called Ladies’ Day. On this schedule, the Yorkshire Oaks and Lowther Stakes happen. Friday has always been announced as Nunthorpe Day. Friday’s highlights are the Gimcrack Stakes, Strensall Stakes, and the Nunthorpe Stakes. Lastly, Saturdays are the grand Ebor Day. Its highlights are the Lonsdale Cup and the Ebor Handicap . In all matches, ante post bets are available. Ante post betting on the Ebor covers all bets waged before the overnight declaration day. Traditionally, most of the celebrated horse racing events allow ante post betting. Upon the entry of the 20th century, most of these bets can be made online. Aside from being a horse racers’ favourite strategy in the Ebor Festival, ante post bets are actually advantageous. Most, if not all, celebrated races offer ante post betting before the competition day because a lot of punters prefer to select a horse in the earlier part of the season.

This is because punters believe that a bigger price means a bigger chance to have a favourable race in the later part of the competition. Another benefit of ante post betting is that it allows punters to bet better prices for a horse as compared to horse prices during the competition’s actual declaration day. The main disadvantage, however, in this type of betting is that there is a likelihood that a punter might get a horse that does not run. Ante post bets accept all horses, whether they can run or not. In this case, once the horse you bet on is not able to run, you are immediately declared a loser. However, this disadvantage can sometimes be avoided. In some competitions, punters are allowed to get their stakes back from the management after getting a non-runner horse. Taking place at York Racecourse in York, England, the Ebor festival has always been a remarkable event. Down in history, it is one of the tournaments with the highest ante post betters. Although very risky, ante post betting punters have always been thrilled by the uncertainty of the match. In fact, most punters bet in money for the excitement and thrill.

Due to its heavy entertainment weight, the Ebor Festival has undoubtedly become a part of an Englishman’s lifestyle. In addition, if you find yourself a tourist in England in August, it is suggested that you drop by York and place your bets. After all, an experience betting on the Ebor festival is worthwhile and irreplaceable in it’s excitement. York Ebor Festival Day 1 | Racing4Girls York Ebor Festival Day 1 August 20, 2014 York Ebor Festival Day 1 Ebor Festival Day 1 The Ebor Festival is back and we’re in for some top racing action over the Knavesmire! Are you as excited as I am? It is a four day race meeting that was first established in 1843 and has only ever been abandoned once in 2008 due to bad weather leaving the course waterlogged. It takes place at York Racecourse which stages three UK Group 1 races over the season, Juddmonte International Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks all of which take place over the Ebor Festival, aren’t we lucky?

Each of the four days has feature races, Wednesday is called ‘Juddmonte International Day’ and features the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes. Here is my preview of both the feature races for Wednesday’s action: 3.05 Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) - (3YO Only) The Roger Varian charge, Kingston Hill is the 11/8 (William Hill) clear favourite for this race. Kingston Hill came 2nd in the Derby at this distance, the rest of his runs were shorter than this, he is certainly one to take seriously here. Next in the betting with William Hill is Postponed for Luca Cumani at 5/1 (William Hill). He was a comfortable winner last time out at in the Listed race at Hamilton when against 5 other runners, he is certainly a progressive type and on that form he would look be a group winner, whether he can get his head in front of Kingston Hill is a question that will be on everyone’s minds.

One that I will be watching closely will be Snow Sky 7/1 (William Hill) in those famous ‘Frankel Silks’ despite only just managed to hang on for the win at Goodwood in his latest run. He did however win in good style at Lingfield in the Derby Trail. It is James Doyle that is on board and takes the ride for trainer, Sir Michael Stoute. This yard goes very well in this race with Sir Michael Stoute currently holding the title as the leading trainer in the Great Voltigeur, winning a grand total of 7 times, including last years winner Telescope, who was partnered up with Ryan Moore. This year jockey, Ryan Moore takes the ride on the favourite, Kingston Hill, so it looks like they both have a chance of defending their crown - just it can only be one or the other! Hartnell is a really good colt but has had a drop back in trip now for this race and I’m not confident it will suit especially after his last two wins have been at 1m 5f and 2m. Least we know he is capable of getting his head in front, certainly a competitive race but think this could be a bit too much for the Mark Johnston trained runner.

It’s Red Galileo that is the outsider at 33/1 (William Hill). We saw improvement when staying on for fifth in the Derby but his other runs this year have not been at all impressive and tailed off in the Gordon Stakes last time out, so a lot to develop on, tongue tie is now applied however do this could make a significant impact, enough to make the frame perhaps, certainly good value for an EW shot. 3.40 Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) - (3YO Plus) Is it as easy as it looks? - Australia tops the betting at 8/13 (William Hill). He won the Derby and the Irish Derby and came a great 3rd in the 2000 Guineas, this trip only suggest that he can improve even more. Will he be the star of the show for both AP and Joseph O’Brien? It was the O’Brien clan that won this race last year with Declaration of War, so certainly on form from what the market suggests in keeping their crown for another year.

He has never ran at this track before, unlike Telescope, Mukhadram and The Grey Gatsby who have not only ran here but won at this track too, will that give a slight avantage to them? Telescope has a drop back in trip which would be a slight concern but has certainly proved himself this season when not liking the soft ground and still managed to come close in the frame. Won at Royal Ascot and came a close second in the King George, certainly one that could be considered here at 9/2 (William Hill). Paul Hanagan is back from his injury and seems to have only made him even more determined to get winners having getting a double on his comeback at Pontefract Racecourse on Sunday. Both Paul and his mount, Mukhadram (5/1 William Hill) are sure to give it their best shot here. Mukhadram is the oldest in the field, aged 5YO, but only seems to have progressed with age winning his first G1 in the Eclipse.

Arod (14/1 William Hill) won his last race very easily in a 3 runner event at Leicester, prior to this has won on good ground at Windsor and came 2nd to The Grey Gatsby here at York in the Dante over C&D. Has run against Australia before and managed to come fourth, would have to dig deep to get in front here of the market leader. Ground is against The Grey Gatsby (14/1) and the market sure has put him as an outsider but has the right jockey to overcome that with Richard Hughes on board to get the best out of the colt. Certainly a much improved competitor for trainer, Kevin Ryan and has C&D under his belt along with the win in the French Derby over in Chantilly. If there was going to be a surprise, this would be the one for me, plus I’m quite partial to the greys!

Polly’s Selections: 1.55 - See The Sun (EW) / Kimbrella (EW) 2.30 - Growl 3.05 - Snow Sky / Red Galileo (EW) 3.40 - Australia / The Grey Gatsby (EW or Bet w/o fav) 4.20 - Bantam / Gambol (EW) 4.55 - Burnt Sugar / Mattmu (EW) Well there we have it, Day 1 is done, let’s hope we can find some winners here. I will be greeting York Races with my presence on both Thursday and Friday, so if you spot me - don’t forget to say Hi.. we’ll get a #RacingSelfie - I already have one lined with with @joedesouza93. For anyone going tomorrow, have a fabulous day and I expect photos on twitter to me. More importantly, I wish all the Horses and Jockeys a safe return and my luck is with all the owners and trainers.

Cannot forget those amazing #Racemakers2014 who will be at the racecourse throughout the whole of the Ebor Festival making an unforgettable experience for all you racegoers so look out for them! That’s all from me! Happy Reading… Happy Punting! Best Wishes, York Racecourse: Investing in an exciting future with an eye on a proud history - Course Specialist York Racecourse: Investing in an exciting future with an eye on a proud history Published May 5, 2014 | Posted by Andrew Pelis Image reproduced with the kind permission of York Racecourse Whilst it is impossible to exactly pinpoint when horse racing first started in Yorkshire, it is a fair statement to suggest that York Racecourse, known for centuries as the Knavesmire, has entertained such leisurely pursuit for much longer than most places on earth. As York prepares for its 2014 curtain raiser with the Dante Festival, we caught up recently with James Brennan, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship. “Racing started on the Knavesmire as far back as 1731 and pre-dated another major event here, the execution of outlaw Dick Turpin, by 8 years.

However, there is archaeological evidence of racing in Yorkshire much earlier than that and King Charles presented a cup for a horse race on the Frozen River Ouse, while north of the city in the Forest of Galtres there is further evidence of possible racing for a golden bell dating back to 1590. “It is also quite likely that the Romans raced and exercised their cavalry horses on the Knavesmire as this would have been the first piece of flat land that they encountered after Micklegate Tower.” James Brennan, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship for York Racecourse Image reproduced with the kind permission of York Racecourse Where is York Racecourse located and what sort of transport links does the course have? “We are easily accessible off the main dual carriageway A64 and we lie just south of the city centre. There is plentiful free car parking space here. “In terms of rail links we are on the main East Coast Rail Line and have excellent rail links to London in the south and Edinburgh to the north, in addition to direct services from Manchester and Hull. There is a shuttle bus service from the train station to the racecourse so people booking train tickets can also pre-order tickets for the Plus Bus.

“For the more energetic, the racecourse is just a 20 to 25 minute walk from the city centre.” What is the crowd capacity for York? “The nature of people’s leisure time has changed and means that our busiest days are the two Saturdays in July when we stage the 55th anniversary (this year) of the John Smith’s Cup (formerly known as the Magnet Cup) and the Sky Bet York Stakes (a day which also includes the Sky Bet Dash). After racing on the latter day there is music and we have Wet Wet Wet booked for 2014. “On these two days we get crowds up to 40,000 people, while the Ebor Meeting typically attracts crowds of 20,000 to 25,000 due to taking place during the week and holiday season. “We moved the Ebor itself to the Saturday when we extended the Ebor Festival to a 4-day event in 2009 and that decision reflected the way the 21 Century world operates.

We have adapted with the times and that has worked well but the world is very different from the middle of the 20th Century, when nearby towns would shut down and local employers like the railway company would close on the Wednesday so that the workers could come to watch the Ebor. “The decision to move to the Saturday – a day of leisure for more people, seemed sensible for a race like the Ebor as people like to watch the competitive handicaps –there is an everyman appeal to them and people like to be able to take their time to study the fields which is easier to do on a Saturday.” In 2008 disaster struck on the Knavesmire as nature unsheathed her claws with a vengeance, causing catastrophic flooding which prevented the big Ebor Festival from taking place. The irony, as Brennan explains, was that work was already set to take place immediately after those events. “August 2008 was hugely disappointing for all of the connections of the horses, all of the race goers who had prepared to attend and of course for our team here, who do something Ebor-focused almost every day in the 365 day lead up to the next Ebor Festival.

“The irony was that we were scheduled to close for a Track Work project after that meeting, having identified a need to improve drainage following heavy rains in 2007. “The media thought that our subsequent Track Work project was in response to the 2008 events but this had already been planned and we invested £2.5 million having held consultations about what could be done to alleviate the challenges long before that Ebor Festival had to be cancelled. “Part of the challenge is obvious and the word “mire” even appears in the name of the racecourse location. In fact, the Knavesmire was once a glacial lake and it is of course low-lying (although it sits slightly higher than the River Ouse). “We carried out comprehensive work installing lateral drains across the course every 10 metres, every 5 metres in some places – and connected to these to a ring drain, which was connected to 6 carrier drains which transported water to culverts in the middle of the Knavesmire that in turn carried water to the River Ouse and out to sea. “We then had to carry out lots of turf work and it was a case of ensuring the turf knitted and nurturing the track.

Each racecourse has its own challenges and aside from the history of the Knavesmire there are other considerations like the effects of the woodland located a mile up to a mile and a quarter away from the grand stands. Woodland keeps turf in the shade and of course uses moisture; it is a challenging place but our team takes a real pride in its work. The racing surface is at the heart of everything we do.” That pride was intensified when Head Groundsman Adrian Kay won the Alex R Millar national title to be crowned Professional Groundsman Of The Year in a contest organised by the Institute of Groundsmanship. He not only won the top accolade for racing, but was crowned the best across all sports. Declaration of War landed the Juddmonte International Stakes, one of the highlights of the 2013 Ebor Festival Image reproduced with the kind permission of York Racecourse Have you made any recent investment in the track or facilities ahead of the 2014 season? “Upgrading the Racecourse is a constant process and over the past quarter of a century we have spent just over £40 million.

“Among the major changes at York Racecourse have been the replacement Knavesmire Stand in 1996 and the Ebor Stand in 2003 in addition to the Melrose Stand. “We recently spent a six figure sum across the stables on accommodation for the head lads and we have recently refurbished the shower rooms. “Our most significant new project is the first phase of the Northern End Development; we are building a new pre-parade ring with bigger saddling enclosures and a wash-down area. This will create an easier route from the pre-parade ring to the paddock and the boxes will be much more state-of-the-art. For race goers, the new pre-parade ring will provide better access and room and this should all be ready in time for our first day’s racing on May 14th this year. “Also under construction is a new weighing room which is due to open in a year’s time. In the meantime there is a space created by the former pre-parade ring which has been converted into a race goers’ space with a marquee for this season and next season we hope to open a new champagne terrace. How many days racing are there in 2014?

When is the first meeting? “For 2014 we have remain settled on 17 days of racing, starting on May 14th with the opening day of the Dante Festival which will carry one million pounds of prize money for the first time ever over its three days. “The racing continues through to our final meeting on October 12th when the Coldstream Guards will play us out. “We have raced for 17 days for the last 3 to 4 years which has taken into account our evening meetings and Sunday Family Day.” How many people does the racecourse employ? How does this number increase for the big Dante and Ebor Festivals? “York has roughly 24 people who work here permanently and we are split between ground staff and office and administration staff. We take on additional people over the peak periods for ground work and for the booking side. “Additionally we have a long-standing partnership with our catering company and they have a dozen permanent staff based here and additional people they will take on for busy times.

“The Ebor Festival sees 2,311 people who work at the course from Totepool staff, bar staff, waitresses and stewards through to car park attendants, security and even a lift attendant.” Of course big audiences from further afield can be a great benefit to the local economy, is there any evidence of the positive economic effects of the Ebor Festival on the York area? A few years ago we thought it would be worth commissioning some research on this issue and we hired Professor Paul Lawless from Sheffield Hallam University. He picked the 2009 season to look at and calculated that the economic impact of York Races for the city was £58 million each year – which was calculated to be the equivalent of 1,300 full time jobs. “We are proud to serve locally sourced foods and of course local taxis, hotels and shops all benefit from the influx of visitors to York. But additionally, in recent seasons the top trainers here have been Richard Fahey and David O’Meara who are both locally-based and have enjoyed the benefits of improved prize money.” Has the moving of days on the Ebor Festival paid off? Are you seeing bigger attendances?

“We are broadly pleased and the overall attendance has been bigger. Of course Frankel attracted a bigger audience and across the meeting in 2012 we had 90,000 visitors, while last year attracted 80,000 – both of which are bigger than for the 3 day format. The more race goers and revenue we are able to attract, the more we are able to re-invest into facilities and prize money. “If the Ebor Festival is a success then the Racecourse is a success and a good example has been the Strensall Stakes, which was moved to the Ebor Festival and immediately upgraded to a £100,000 race. “By moving to a 4-day format we are also able to give the big races more of a focus and races like the Acomb Stakes (sponsored by Tattersalls for the first time this year) have greater prominence.

“The ‘pixie dust’ of Ladies’ Day would attract a crowd of 32,000 and in the old days it was all getting pretty busy but we are able to spread the crowd out more over 4 days.” Brennan says that the unique experience of hosting Royal Ascot at York in 2005 was not only a privilege but a useful learning curve: “Royal Ascot at York was a fabulous experience to be involved in. It was the right thing to do for racing so we wanted to support the Ascot team and we learned plenty in terms of dealing with bigger crowds and how to make use of spaces. “For example they converted a strip of lawn into a Champagne Bar and there was lots of work that went into traffic planning and that has left us with a real legacy.” As Frankel’s visit underlines, the top horses will always attract bigger audiences and many of the most compelling runners come from overseas, including Declaration Of War, last year’s Juddmonte International Stakes winner. What measures have you taken to try to attract more overseas runners from Ireland, France and further afield?

“We have worked closely with Ascot and Newmarket and there is a clear progression for the sprinters to go from Royal Ascot to the July Cup and on to York for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes. But we also work hard with the International Racing Bureau and their network of contacts and agents. “Our clerks and team follow-up on whispers in the media and we are of course very fortunate to have Lord Grimthorpe as Chairman of the Race Committee at York Racecourse. He is well travelled and known around the racing world and helps to spread the York Gospel!

“We also work with the likes of IMG and Racing UK and with global media rights; for the past two years the Ebor has been shown live on Sky Sports One in Australia.” The Fugue is a typical globe-trotting horse who travelled to York to land the 2013 Darley Yorkshire Oaks Image reproduced with the kind permission of York Racecourse That of course can only be good for business and racing is no different from almost every other industry when it comes to globalisation, which has opened up opportunities to link with other racecourses and events around the world: “We have had an exchange visit with Flemington Park (home to the Melbourne Cup in Australia) but there are no formal links yet and the Ebor has not yet attained a “win and you’re in” status as regards their great race. However we have seen a number of Ebor runners makes the trip and come close to winning. “The Japanese Racing Association has put a bonus in place if the Darley Yorkshire Oaks or Juddmonte International Stakes winners can win the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup or Japan Cup in the autumn – it is a phenomenal bonus amount.

(In 2010 Snow Fairy almost accomplished the double, winning in Japan but finishing second to Midday in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks). “The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series has also agreed that the winners of the three Group One races at the Ebor Festival all automatically qualify for the Breeders’ Cup in America. “All of which means you can travel east or west for big prizes after winning at York.” How challenging is it to secure sponsorship in the current economic climate? Have you brought in any major new sponsors for 2014? “Sponsorship is all relative and sponsors have different needs and target audiences of course. “At York we are very fortunate to have longstanding relationships with sponsors for the big races. For example the John Smith’s Cup is the longest running flat racing sponsorship in the world and other major sponsors like Juddmonte Farms, Darley and Coolmore have been with us for many years. “But it is also nice to see energetic support from newer sponsors like Sky Bet.

On other days many local companies have been long-standing sponsors, including Parsonage Country House Hotel who have sponsored a race on the Friday of our October meeting for as long as I have been here; while Langley’s the a York based solicitor firm and Minster Alarms have been involved with sponsorship for many years. “It is great that we have a well of support and I hope that means that we are doing things right.” What initiatives are in place to attract and educate a younger audience to racing? “We have introduced music nights and also have a Family Sunday meeting (which started in 2000) which is very popular. These events bring in a new audience and are key in connecting people with the horses. “We have the equisizers and people have the chance to dress up in jockey silks and the Charles Owen Pony Race was a real highlight last year and gave the teenage riders a chance to show their peers all about racing. “In addition we have an agreement with New Beginnings – a centre for retraining retired racehorses, and they bring along Golden Hello, formerly trained by Tim Easterby, who meets the crowds in more relaxed style as simply, Harry.

“We don’t charge under 18s and look to encourage families to come along for an affordable afternoon out.” Does the racecourse have any other income streams on non-racing days – such as events, weddings, conferences? “On non-race days we host over 700 events over a 12 month period and we have a pretty broad church of activities. “Our Christmas parties see over 10,000 Christmas meals served and the Easter Weekend sees York Racecourse play host to perhaps the largest model railway exhibition in the country. There are collectors’ fairs of all kind and we also provide conference facilities for regional organisations including Tesco and the Royal College Of Nurses. Then towards the end of June we host school leaver balls.” What are the longer-term hopes and plans for York? “Our big focus will be on the North End Development and the construction of a new champagne pavilion with better toilet facilities. Additionally the new weighing room will be a major development. “Our direction is set to continue investing in prize money to attract the best horses and in 2014 the total has risen by £200,000 to over £6 million, following on from a record 2013.

“We will have five giant screens at the Ebor Festival and we will be spending more on improvements to our wi-fi facilities; which was something we could never have envisaged ten years ago! “Similarly a decade ago we would never have imagined all televisions would be flat screen, so we are constantly evolving to deliver the best in modern entertainment.” Location Location Galleries Location York Racecourse lies within a mile of the city centre and is served by convenient road, rail and air access routes. Travelling by Road York Racecourse is located within a mile of the A64 - one of York's main trunk roads. Please see map for the location of York Racecourse or use our get driving directions facility below to download directions to the racecourse from a specific location. Driving Directions Just enter your postcode below to get door-to-door directions courtesy of Google Maps (Map opens in a new window): Just enter your postcode below to get door-to-door directions courtesy of Google Maps (Map opens in a new window): Travelling by rail York is one of the UK's major railway stations and connects with many routes. Fast and frequent trains run from King's Cross, taking as little as 1 hour 52 minutes.

There are also direct trains from Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. Once at the station it is a short hop to the racecourse by bus (frequent service running every 10 minutes) or a 5 minute taxi journey which will cost in the region of £7-8. It is approximately 1.5 miles if you wish to go by foot. Travelling by Air The nearest International Airport is Leeds Bradford (approx 50 minutes away) followed by Robin Hood / Doncaster (approx 60 minutes) then Teeside and Manchester International Airports (approx 90 mins). Light aircraft may use Rufforth, only six miles west of the racecourse. Helicopter access is available at the course by prior arrangement. Tel: (01904) 683933. Horse Racing - Sport | Welcome to Yorkshire Share this page Horse Racing No other region in the UK is as passionate about horse racing as Yorkshire. The county is synonymous with the sport of kings, with no fewer than nine top class courses - more than any other region in the UK - holding over 170 meetings each year and home to numerous winning stables including Middleham, Malton and Richmond.

Whatever style of racing you prefer, you'll be spoilt for choice in Yorkshire, with six flat racing courses at York, Beverley, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon and Thirsk, a specialist National Hunt course at Wetherby, and dual courses offering monthly racing either on the flat or over jumps at Catterick in the north and Doncaster in the south. Famous racing festivals staged in Yorkshire include the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor meeting and the St Leger at Doncaster - the oldest classic horse race in the world. Visitors wanting to purchase tickets should contact the relevant racecourse directly. Whether you are looking for a day out to celebrate a special occasion with family and friends, or want to entertain, reward people or if you want to enjoy a day at the races in comfort and style let Dine & View in Yorkshire arrange your perfect day at the races. Go Racing in 2016 Horse racing makes a great day out for family and friends Boasting more top racecourses than any other region of the UK, not to mention a string of successful stables and the Northern Racing College, Yorkshire is synonymous with the very best in British horseracing.

There are nine Yorkshire racecourses - Beverley, Catterick, Doncaster, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk, Wetherby and York. Our nine courses host 180 days of racing throughout the year, from the pure adrenaline of championship races to the relaxed informality of our family days. Beverley Racing at Beverley has taken place since 1690 on the beautiful rolling expanse of common land known locally as the Westwood, just a short walk from the market town of Beverley. Beverley Racecourse combines a stunning location, great grass-roots racing, friendly staff, smart facilities, delicious food and a warm Yorkshire welcome to cement its reputation as one of the most charming and friendly courses in the North of England. The season starts in April and lasts until late September, with a whole range of themed meetings to suit all racegoers, from family days featuring petting zoos and Frozen singalongs, through to glamorous evening meetings. Entry starts from just £5 with under 18s going free.

Beverley is the only Racecourse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, just 10 miles from the east coast city of Hull, and a short 13 mile hop from the M62, so really easy to get to with ample free parking when you do get here. Find out more... Catterick Catterick's 27 race meetings per year put it second only to Doncaster in the quantity of races hosted, but there's plenty of quality too. One of just two courses in Yorkshire to offer both flat and National Hunt racing, Catterick Racecourse hosts meetings every month, and gets things underway as early as possible with the very first jumps gathering of the year on New Year's Day. You will find Catterick Racecourse (since 1783) in the hamlet of Catterick Bridge close to the Catterick Garrison, the worlds' largest British Army barracks, and home to around 12000 soldiers. The venue, close to the A1, is also home to Catterick Sunday market, the largest in the north of England Calendar In course's Flat season begins in March, with 17 meetings running right through to November.

In December it's back to the fences again. And it never stops! Catterick's flat season includes three evening meetings. Doncaster Doncaster is a truly historic racing destination, boasting not just one, but two, of the world's oldest races and a heritage of regular race meetings dating back to the 16th century. The Doncaster Cup is the world's oldest continuously run race. The horses were first 'off' in 1766. Just ten years later the legendary St Leger , named after Colonel Anthony St Leger, got underway, making it now the oldest of the five 'classics' (it's also the longest). Doncaster racecourse is one of only two in Yorkshire to offer both flat racing and National Hunt jump racing. It hosts races in every month of the year and can lay claim to be Yorkshire's most prolific track. Calendar When racing gets underway at Doncaster's classic Town Moor course, on the outskirts of the town, the world takes notice. The Lincoln meeting in April marks the start of the UK flat racing season, which also ends with Doncaster's November Handicap.

The St Leger Festival in September features the last of the season's classics, and the longest at 1 mile 6 furlongs. Doncaster is easy to get to, by car via the A1, by train via the East Coast main line, or even by air to Doncaster Robin Hood Airport just seven miles away. Pontefract Pontefract, home of the rich and iconic liquorice cakes, has offered top notch horse racing for over two centuries. How do we know? Well, in 1802 members' badges were sold for £50! Today you can enjoy the friendly flavour of this great Yorkshire racecourse for a lot less than that. Pontefract racecourse prides itself on catering for the racegoer, and is not short on experience. Not only has racing taken place in the town since 1648, but the current course was one of just two northern venues to have staged racing during World War II - proving Pontefract's 'show must go on' passion for horse racing that continues to this day. Pontefract's flat race meetings generate great atmosphere in intimate surroundings, and are invariably graced with competitive racing too.

The home straight of over 2 furlongs, with the last 4 furlongs of the course uphill, guarantees some grandstand finishes among strong horses. Calendar Pontefract's flat racing season runs from early April to mid October and takes place on the longest continuous horse racing circuit in Europe at 2 miles and 125yds. The 16 meetings planned for 2013 include three evening meetings (including Pontefract's Got Talent, Singles Night and a beer festival) and three Family Day Sunday meetings, not forgetting Ladies Day in August. Situated just off junction 32 of the M62 (the other side of the motorway from the Xscape snow zone) just outside the market town itself, Pontefract races offer a welcoming experience that attracts lively crowds of racegoers from across the north. Redcar Redcar is Yorkshire's only coastal town race course, situated a few miles north of Middlesborough near the mouth of the River Tees! Before today's course opened up its turf in the 1870s, racing actually took place on the nearby Sands of Coatham.

More recently, Redcar, a former fishing community, provided the setting for the beach scenes in the recent Oscar-winning film Atonement. Redcar's modern racecourse is set in 72 panoramic acres, and easily accessed by road, rail and air, or even on foot from the town centre. Ripon More commonly known as Yorkshires Garden Racecourse, Ripon has hosted some of the most exciting and prestigious racing for more than 300 years. Impressing with its outstanding back drop, the racecourse is suitably located in one of the country's most beautiful and quaint cities. With the market town being one of the oldest cities in England it is a great place to visit. With 16 flat meetings from April to September including stating special events such as Ladies' Day, Family Day and in mid-August the ‘Great St Wilfrid Stakes', it certainly is one of Yorkshires hidden gems. Ripon has hosted some of the most exciting, prestigious and enjoyable racing in the country for more than 300 years. It never fails to impress year on year with its outstanding back drop and exciting atmosphere. Always challenging itself to improve and build on spectator experience, Ripon has a lot to offer.

Ripon Racecourse is known widely for its picturesque surroundings, and was fittingly presented with the Gold Rose Award by Yorkshire in Bloom; the regional body representing the Britain in Bloom campaign. We are one of the few racecourses to boast a giant screen, which is ideally located opposite the main stand adding to the excitement of each race; providing clear footage of all the action. You'll find all the action is situated close to the A1, 11 miles north of Harrogate. Thirsk Thirsk's fame as the real-life setting for the work of author and vet, James Herriot, provides a backdrop for a visit to one of Yorkshire's most beautiful racecourses - Thirsk Racecourse . The compact and scenic circuit of this local market town, nestled in the broad vale in the Hambleton area between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, makes for a perfect day out for visitors to the region looking for a laid back racecourse with an excess of charm. There's great history too. Racing in the area began on the nearby Hambleton Hills almost exactly 400 years ago under King James I.

More recently (the 1700s!) one of Thirsk's biggest races, the Thomas Lord Stakes, was named after Thomas Lord a local resident who became the founder of Lord's Cricket Ground. The current compact and attractive course in Station Road opened in 1855. Wetherby Yorkshire's only exclusively National Hunt Jumps Racecourse, with easy access to Wetherby Town, and only 12 miles from Leeds, Wetherby Racecourse is one of the most convenient and enjoyable places to follow National Hunt racing in Britain. Wetherby's season runs from October throught to May, with approximately 17 fixtures between. While every raceday at Wetherby provides an exciting day out, the course does offer some highlight meetings which simply must not be missed... The bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting, is a two-day meeting which takes place in early November.

The meeting, which offers a total of £245,000 in prize money, is a significant highlight in the National Hunt Calendar, and offers a quality two-day race programme, including two listed races on the first day and the John Smith's Hurdle and bet365 Charlie Hall Steeplechase on the second day. The £1000,000 bet365 Charlie Hall Steeplechase is widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential early-season trials for top-quality chasers as they set out on the long road to the Cheltenham and Grand National Festivals. Previous recent winners of the race include Nacarat, Deep Purple, State of Play, Our Vic and Weird Al. Another fixture which is a definite diary date is the Christmas Meeting, which takes place on 26th (Boxing Day) and 27th December. This meeting brings people together and offers an exciting day out for family and friends over the festive season. Over 20,000 people now attend over the two-days which generates an atmosphere that you simply have to be part of to fully appreciate.

Join the Ritual this Christmas at Wetherby and make the day part of your Yorkshire Christmas. During the season Wetherby also provide a host of additional themed days, which as well as the racing action, provide a slightly different range of additional attractions and entertainment to suit all. Irish Day is a great day out for the lads, Family Day combines racing with fun-fair rides and a circus, while Ladies' Evening is a chance for everyone to really dress to impress. Find out more about Wetherby Racecourse and their calendar of races... York York Racecourse has long been known as the Ascot of the north, and truly lived up to that name in 2005 by brilliantly hosting the Royal Ascot festival, as the iconic southern course underwent redevelopment. Since then the already world-class Knavesmire flat racing course and facilities at York have gone from strength to strength and, set in one of Britain's flagship heritage destinations, provide a truly memorable place to spend a day (or more!) racing, whether you attend one of its prestige festivals or a simple family Sunday.

You will find the Knavesmire to the south west of York's historic city centre, just off the A64 and an easy 20-minute or so walk (or even easier bus ride) from its elegant East Coast mainline railway station, once the largest in Europe. If you are looking for a place in history, you'll certainly find it here. The Knavesmire has been home to racing in York for 280 years, but this city has hosted horse races since Roman times....2000 years ago! Posted on August 22, 2016 by admin York Ebor Festival Review So after a bad first 2 days at York Ebor Festival we clawed it back and came out with a steady profit of 5 Points to make it 28 out of 34 festivals in profit.

Some … Continue reading → Posted on August 14, 2016 by admin York Ebor PREVIEW with The Snout With this weekends’ racing not the most enticing, I am looking ahead to our next summer festival to get our teeth stuck into and this comes in the form of The York Ebor Festival,which … Continue reading → Posted on August 5, 2016 by admin Another Festival is over and I can’t help but think we were hard done by. We tipped up 36 horse’s this week of which 13 finished in the frame. That is just over 33% of all tip’s placed. Another 9 … Continue reading → Want to own a Racehorse? Latest Posts

Question: At which racecourse does the Ebor Racing Festival take place?
Answer: YORK